Tubal ligation

WA only

Tubal ligation is a permanent method of contraception, also known as female sterilisation, which involves blocking both fallopian tubes, preventing the passage of eggs (ova) to the uterus, thereby preventing pregnancy.

At Dr Marie Midland in Western Australia, we perform laparoscopic sterilisation, also known as ‘keyhole’ or ‘minimally invasive’ surgery, which requires only small incisions, minimising risk and recovery time. The procedure takes about 20-30 minutes and is performed under a general anaesthetic. Two small incisions are made on your abdomen, about 1-2cm long through which specialised surgical instruments are inserted to see the fallopian tubes. The most common method of tubal ligation is to block each tube by placing a clip on it, though sometimes other procedures are used to close the tubes.

Our Dr Marie Midland clinic is a modern and spacious fully-accredited day surgery clinic. Our passionate and experienced staff work extremely hard to ensure that each patient receives the most comprehensive care that focuses on their individual needs. Your welfare is of utmost importance to us, which is why we offer free decision-based counselling and 24 hour nurse aftercare services to help you before, during and after your procedure.

You will need a referral from your GP to access tubal ligation services at our clinic. Details for your GP on how to do this can be found on our page for doctors and includes referral templates to facilitate.

Following your procedure you will spend some time in a bed, then a reclining chair in the recovery suite. The nurse will provide care for you post-procedure and you will not need to see the doctor unless experiencing any unusual pain or discomfort.

Following any surgical procedure, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You must arrange this before the procedure commences, as we cannot proceed without the name and number of the support person designated to pick you up. As we have a duty of care, we cannot allow you to travel home alone by taxi.

The most common side-effects and complications post-procedure are:

Nausea or tiredness
After a general anaesthetic, you may feel tired and nauseous. When you get home, make sure you rest and limit your physical activity.

Pain or discomfort
It is likely that you will have some discomfort where the incisions were made. You may also have muscular aches and pains from the anaesthetic and pain in your shoulders from the gas put in your abdomen during the operation. This discomfort should settle in a couple of days.

You may take over-the counter pain relief, like Panadol, Panadeine, Ibuprofen or prescribed tablets for pain, cramps or headaches.

You should be able to resume normal activities after a couple of days.

Bleeding and wound care
You may notice a small amounting of vaginal bleeding (spotting) for a few days following your procedure. This can be caused by the instruments used to perform the procedure. Please refrain from using tampons during this time to decrease your risk of infection.

The incision sites will be covered with a film dressing. The water-proof dressings need to be left in place for five days following your surgery. After five days, you may remove them.

If at any stage you have concerns or questions about what is normal, please call our 24-hour aftercare service any time on 1300 003 707.

FAQ

Tubal ligation (female sterilisation) is a highly effective (>99.5%) form of contraception. As you may have already ovulated before the procedure, we advise using another form of contraception until your next period. Serious complications following the procedure are rare (less than 1 out of 1,000 women) and there are no long-term side-effects. The procedure will not affect your hormones or menstruation cycle.
Vasectomy is the male alternative for permanent contraception and is one of the most effective forms of contraception with a failure rate of less than 0.1% – making it more effective than female sterilisation (tubal ligation) and reversible methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs).

As tubal ligation is considered a permanent method of contraception, it is strongly recommended that only women who are certain they do not want more children or children at all have the procedure. If you think you might change your mind, you and your partner should consider an alternative method of contraception and wait until you are certain of your decision.
While tubal ligations can sometimes be reversed, the chances of falling pregnant are only around 50% and reversal may cause a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy (when the egg implants outside the womb).